---
title: "Steven Gerrard gambling on Philippe Coutinho"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2022/05/12/steven-gerrard-gambling-on-philippe-coutinho/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-05-12T15:57:06Z"
modified: "2022-05-12T15:58:15Z"
---

# Steven Gerrard gambling on Philippe Coutinho

Aston Villa are [closing in](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/12/aston-villa-agree-sign-philippe-coutinho-from-barcelona-permanent-deal) on a permanent deal for Philippe Coutinho and could land his signature for [much less than expected](https://readastonvilla.com/2022/05/10/aston-villa-deserve-medal-if-they-sign-philippe-coutinho-for-20m-less-than-agreed/), but the move comes during a [dip in form](https://readastonvilla.com/2022/05/02/paul-robinson-says-steven-gerrard-will-sign-philippe-coutinho-despite-poor-form/).

The 29-year-old got his [Villa career](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/transfers/spieler/80444) off to a great start with four goals and three assists from his [eight Premier League appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/leistungsdaten/spieler/80444), but he’s not added to that total in two months. And when looking at how Coutinho spiralled at Barcelona (2018 – present) and Bayern (2019/20), could history repeat itself?

The Brazilian international made [54 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/leistungsdaten/spieler/80444/plus/0?saison=2018) in his debut season at Barca, scoring 11 goals with five assists. He netted just one goal in his last 28 La Liga outings, making 32% of those appearances from the bench.

Coutinho was loaned out to Bayern the following campaign, scoring 11 goals with nine assists in [38 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/leistungsdaten/spieler/80444/plus/1?saison=2019) across the board, but he netted just two goals in his last 19 Bundesliga games. Injury struck late-season too, so he was mostly making substitute appearances during the run-in.

Back at Barca last season, Coutinho only managed [14 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/leistungsdaten/spieler/80444/plus/1?saison=2020) from a possible 54 due to injury. There’s been a pattern of the 29-year-old starting seasons brightly then fading away which somewhat mimics his time at Villa, so can Gerrard get the best from Coutinho over a full season?

***[In other news, this is the likely reason Carney Chukwuemeka won’t sign a new deal with Aston Villa](https://readastonvilla.com/2022/05/11/the-likely-reason-carney-chukwuemeka-wont-sign-a-new-deal/)***